Ah, puberty. It can be a very interesting time in a guy's
life, what with all the changes going on. In fact, it seems like
every day something on your body grows bigger or hair begins
sprouting somewhere. Each day brings a new change or two, and it
can sometimes feel like it's hard to keep up.
It doesn't happen to every guy, but one of these changes can
be the development of breast tissue. It's called
gynecomastia
(pronounced: guy-nuh-ko-
mas
-tee-uh) and it's completely normal - and almost always
temporary. So how exactly does a guy happen to develop breast
tissue?
What Is Gynecomastia?
Gynecomastia is a condition in which breast tissue forms in
guys, usually due to normal hormonal changes during puberty.
Hormones are chemicals produced by your body's glands. In a
guy, hormones produced in the testicles are responsible for the
physical changes that begin to take place during puberty - facial
hair, muscle development, a deepening of the voice, and the
lengthening of the penis, for example. Guys and girls produce both
androgens
(hormones that help develop and maintain male characteristics) and
estrogen
(a hormone that is responsible for most female
characteristics).
Guys have mostly androgens in their systems, but they also have
small amounts of estrogen. In girls, breast growth is caused by
high levels of estrogen. Normally, when going through puberty, a
guy's production of androgens increases significantly, whereas
estrogen production remains low.
However, sometimes guys produce enough estrogen during puberty
that some breast tissue develops. Breast tissue growth in guys can
appear on one or both sides of the chest, and the breast area can
feel tender. This doesn't mean you're turning into a girl
or anything. It's just a minor change in your hormones as you
begin to grow into adulthood.
How Common Is It?
It's estimated that about half of all males going through
puberty experience some degree of gynecomastia in one or both
breasts. Gynecomastia is almost always a temporary condition, and
it's very unusual for the breasts to stay developed - they will
eventually flatten out completely within a few months to a couple
of years. It usually goes away on its own and no medical treatment
or surgery is needed.
Even though it's just a temporary change for most teens,
some guys with gynecomastia feel embarrassed or self-conscious
about their appearance. Many guys find that wearing loose-fitting
shirts helps make the condition less noticeable until the breast
tissue shrinks over time. Surgical removal of the breast tissue is
an option in some cases. If a guy finds his gynecomastia is
bothering him, he can talk to a doctor about it.
Although the most common cause of gynecomastia is puberty, it
can sometimes be caused by certain diseases or side effects of some
medications. Using illegal drugs such as anabolic steroids,
marijuana, or heroin can also disrupt hormonal balance and lead to
gynecomastia.
There's also something called
pseudogynecomastia
(or false gynecomastia). This has nothing to do with puberty or
hormones. It's just simply due to the fact that some guys have
extra fat in the chest area, making it look like they have breasts.
A doctor's exam can tell whether a guy has gynecomastia or
pseudogynecomastia.
If you're concerned or have any questions about
gynecomastia, talk to your doctor. Keep in mind that temporary
breast tissue growth in guys is a common part of puberty that
will usually go away on its own.
Reviewed by:
Steven Dowshen, MD
Date reviewed: January 2007
Note: All information is for educational purposes only. For specific medical advice,
diagnoses, and treatment, consult your doctor.
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